Dental Treatment Apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for dental treatment includes a base, a treatment unit, and a connecting piece. The treatment unit has one or more treatment instruments and one or more lines for the supply of water, air and electricity. The connecting piece is placed in between the base and the treatment unit. The treatment unit can be disconnected from and connected to the base by using the connecting piece.

The invention relates to an apparatus for dental treatment, comprising abase and a treatment unit, which treatment unit comprises one or moretreatment instruments and one or more lines for the supply of water, airand electricity.

Such an apparatus is known.

The known apparatus has the drawback, that when this has to be servicedor when, as a result of a malfunction, repairs have to be carried out,the entire apparatus is out of use until the activities are completed.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate this drawback.

The apparatus according to the invention to that end is characterized inthat in between the base and the treatment unit a connecting piece isprovided by means of which the treatment unit can be disconnected fromand connected to the base.

With the apparatus according to the invention it is possible toincorporate the technical part of a dental treatment apparatus in atreatment unit and to disconnect this treatment unit from the base.Because of this possibility of disconnection it is possible to provideall the technical parts, and as such, all the parts that are susceptibleto malfunction, in a part that is interchangeable.

According to a further characteristic of the apparatus according to theinvention the connecting piece is formed by a first part and a secondpart which are provided with cooperating connector parts for the supplyof water, air and electricity, whereby, when the two parts are coupledto each other, the connector parts are connected to each other, in sucha way that the lead-through of water, air and electricity from the baseto the treatment unit is established, whereby the second part isprovided with an opening through which a drawing pen is movable, whilethe drawing pen at one outer end is fixed to a cable and at the otherouter end is provided with an inner flanged edge and, spaced there from,an outer flanged edge, whereby in between the inner flanged edge and thesecond part a spring is provided, by which the drawing pen is supportedon the second part and by means of which the drawing pen can be drawnagainst spring force through the opening by the cable, while the firstpart is provided with a first opening having a diameter such, that thiscan be moved over the outer flanged edge, while the first openingextends into a second opening, having a diameter which is smaller thanthe diameter of the outer flanged edge but which is larger that thediameter of the drawing pen, whereby, when the first part with thesecond opening is placed in between the flanged edges and leans againstthe outer flanged edge, by pulling the cable the first part is movedtowards the second part, in such a way, that the connector parts arecoupled to each other.

According to a further characteristic of the apparatus according to theinvention the second part is provided with a sleeve in which the drawingpen is movable, while the spring is supported on the second part bymeans of the sleeve.

According to another characteristic of the apparatus according to theinvention the one part is provided with at least two guide pens and theother part is provided with at least two guide holes for receiving theguide pens, in such a way that the first part and the second part can beconnected to each other in a fixed position.

Further features and characteristics will be described with reference tothe drawings of an example of an embodiment.

The FIGS. 1, 2, 3 a and 3 b show the two cooperating parts of aconnecting piece such as can be used in the apparatus according to theinvention, whereby

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the second part;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the first part;

FIG. 3 a shows a side view of the second part;

FIG. 3 b shows a side view of the first part.

As can be seen in the FIGS. 1 to 3 b the connecting piece, such as canbe used in the apparatus for dental treatment according to theinvention, is formed by a first part 1 and a second part 2 which areprovided with cooperating connector parts 4, 9 for the supply of waterand air. Further the parts are provided with connector parts 5, 10 forthe supply of electricity. When the two parts 1, 2 are coupled to eachother the connector parts 4, 9 and the connector parts 5, 10 areconnected to each other. In the example of an embodiment shown the firstpart 1 is provided with three male connector parts 4 for the supply ofwater and air, and the second part 2 is provided with three femaleconnector parts 9 for the supply of water and air. When the connectorparts 4 are connected to the connector parts 9 and when the connectorpart 5 is connected to the connector part 10, the lead-through of water,air and electricity from the base to the treatment unit is established.When disconnecting the connections between the connector parts 4, 9 thecouplings for the water and air supply are automatically closed; becauseof this no “leak water” and “leak air” can develop. As can be seen inthe figures the electronics is led through the upper connector parts 5,10. Because of this, in case of any “post dripping” after thedisconnection of the coupling, no short-circuiting can come about.

The second part 2 is provided with a central opening 13 through which adrawing pen 7 is movable, whereby the drawing pen 7 at one outer end 14is fixed to a cable (not shown) and at the other outer end is providedwith an inner flanged edge 15 and, spaced there from, an outer flangededge 16. In between the inner flanged edge 15 and the second part 2 aspring 8 is provided, by which the drawing pen 7 is supported on thesecond part 2 and by means of which the drawing pen 7 can be drawnagainst spring force through the opening 13 by the cable. The first part1 is provided with a central first opening 3 having a diameter such,that this can be moved over the outer flanged edge 16, while the firstopening 3 extends into a second opening 17, having a diameter which issmaller than the diameter of the outer flanged edge 16 but which islarger that the diameter of the drawing pen 7. When the first part 1with the second opening 17 is placed in between the flanged edges 15, 16and leans against the outer flanged edge 16, by pulling the cable thefirst part 1 is moved towards the second part 2, in such a way, that theconnector parts 4, 9 and 5, 10 are coupled to each other.

In the embodiment shown the second part 2 is provided with a guidesleeve 12 in which the drawing pen 7 is movable, while the spring 8 issupported on the second part 2 by means of the sleeve 12.

Further the second part 2 is provided with at least two conical guidepens 11 and the first part 1 is provided with at least two guide holes 6for receiving the guide pens 11. In the example of an embodiment shownthe guide pens 11 have a length such, that the outer ends 19 thereofextend beyond the inner flanged edge 15 of the drawing pen 7 when thedrawing pen 7 is pushed out by the spring 8 that is supported by thesecond part 2. Further guide slots 18 extend into the guide holes 6 forreceiving the outer ends 19 of the guide pens 11, in such a way, thatwhen the parts 1, 2 are being connected to each other and when thedrawing pen 7 is being moved from the first opening 3 into the secondopening 17, the outer ends 19 of the guide pens 11 are forced by meansof the guide slots 18 into the guide holes 6. Because of this the femaleand male connectors for the supply of water, air and electricity willgradually couple with each other. Further, the first part and the secondpart can be connected to each other in a fixed position.

In an advantageous manner the space between the inner flanged edge 15and the outer flanged edge 16 of the drawing pen 7 is only somewhatlarger than the thickness of the first part 1, such that the first part1 fits closely therein between. In this manner the displacement ortilting of the second part 2 relative to the first part 1 is prevented.Further, in the example of the embodiment the diameter of the innerflanged edge 15 is larger than the diameter of the first opening 3 inthe first part, so that is prevented that during the coupling the firstpart is pushed over the inner flanged edge 15.

With the invention it is possible to incorporate the technical part of adental treatment apparatus in a treatment unit and to disconnect thistreatment unit from the base. Because of this possibility ofdisconnecting it is possible to mount all the technical parts, more inparticular the parts that are susceptible to malfunction, in aninterchangeable part. When the cable releases the drawing pen 7, thefirst part 1 will be pushed away from the second part 2 by the force ofthe pressure spring 8 and by the springs in the water and air connectors4, 9. The water and air connections automatically are closed after theopening of the coupling.

By the three types of connectors that are used it is possible to mountall the electronics in the treatment unit. Because of this it is verysimple to interchange only the treatment unit in the case of abreakdown.

1. Apparatus for dental treatment, comprising: a base; a treatment unit, said treatment unit being comprised of one or more treatment instruments and one or more lines for supply of water, air and electricity; and a connecting piece positioned between said base and said treatment unit, said treatment unit being able to be disconnected from and connected to said base.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said connecting piece is comprised of a first part and a second part, each part being provided with cooperating connector parts for the supply of water, air and electricity, wherein, when the first and second parts are coupled to each other, the connector parts are connected to each other so that a lead-through of water, air and electricity from said base to said treatment unit is established, wherein said second part is provided with an opening through which a drawing pen is movable, said drawing pen at one outer end being fixed to a cable and at another outer end being provided with an inner flanged edge and an outer flanged edge, said outer flanged edge being spaced from said inner flanged edge, wherein a spring is provided in between said inner flanged edge and said second part, said drawing pen being supported on said second part and being drawn against spring force through the opening by said cable, wherein said first part is provided with a first opening having a diameter, said first opening being mobile over said outer flanged edge, while said first opening extends into a second opening, said second opening having a diameter smaller than a diameter of said outer flanged edge but larger that a diameter of said drawing pen, and wherein, when said first part with said second opening is placed in between the flanged edges and leans against the outer flanged edge by pulling said cable, said first part is moved towards said second part, the connector parts being coupled to each other.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second part is provided with a sleeve said drawing pen being movable in said sleeve, while said spring is supported on said second part by said sleeve.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first part or said second part is provided with at least two guide pens, and wherein the part, without at least two guide pens, is provided with at least two guide holes, the guide pens being received in the guide holes, said first part and said second part being connected to each other in a fixed position.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the guide pens are conical pens.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the guide pens have a length such that outer ends thereof extend beyond said inner flanged edge of said drawing pen when said drawing pen is pushed out by said spring.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the guide holes have guide slots extending therein and receive outer ends of the guide pens, and wherein said outer ends of the guide pens are forced into the guide holes when the parts are being connected to each other and said drawing pen is being moved from said first opening into said second opening.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the connector parts for the electrical current supply are provided in top of the parts.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the connector parts for the supply of the electrical current are provided above the connector parts for the supply of water.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the openings are provided centrally in the parts.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the inner flanged edge and the outer flanged edge of the drawing pen have a space therebetween, said space being larger than a thickness of said first part, such that said first part fits closely therein between.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said inner flanged edge has a diameter larger than a diameter of said first opening in said first part. 